Manipulative device for competitive play

ABSTRACT

A manipulative device for competitive play by two or more participants comprising a platform having an upper playing surface. The surface has a central discharge opening and supports one or more mobile play pieces such as marbles for movement over the surface. The platform is connected at its edge to two or more individual handle means which are spaced apart around the platform and are grasped firmly by the participants who struggle or wrestle against one another to attempt to manipulate the platform to cause or prevent the marble from falling into the opening. The device also includes means connected to the underside of the platform below the opening to receive discharged marbles, and adapted to support the platform in a position elevated above a support surface such as a table while affording ready manipulation of the platform.

United States 3,008,719 11/1961 Misko 1 ate Inventors Adolph E. Goldfarb 19434 Londelius St., Northridge, Calif. 91324; Rene Soriano, Los Angeles, Calif. Appl. No. 872,874 Filed Oct. 31, 1969 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 Assignee said Goldfarb, by said Soriano MANIPULATIVE DEVICE FOR COMPETITIVE PLAY 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 273/110, 273/113 Int. Cl A63b 67/00 Field of Search 73/109 R, 11OR,113R,115R

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,101,946 8/1963 Ebert 3,236,522 2/1966 Brown Primary Examiner- Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorneys-Sokolskian & Wohlgemuth and Robert M. Ashen ABSTRACT: A manipulative device for competitive play by two or more participants comprising a platform having an upper playing surface. The surface has a central discharge opening and supports one or more mobile play pieces such as marbles for movement over the surface. The platform is connected at its edge to two or more individual handle means which are spaced apart around the platform and are grasped firmly by the participants who struggle or wrestle against one another to attempt to manipulate the platform to cause or prevent the marble from falling into the opening. The device also includes means connected to the underside of the platform below the opening to receive discharged marbles, and adapted to support the platform in a position elevated above a support surface such as a table while affording ready manipu- V lation of the platform.

MANIPULATIVE DEVICE FOR COMPETITIVE PLAY Most adults and children enjoy playing with a device or a game that requires certain skill from the user and pits his skill against that of other participants in the game or use of the device. It is also desirable that there be an element of chance or unpredictability, and that the device provides excitement and holds the imagination of the users. The present invention contemplates such a device wherein the skill of each user is matched against the skill of the other users in manipulating the device. The dexterity, agility and coordination of the players are called into use, as well as their strength.

The illustrated device comprises a platform having an upper play surface on which one or more spheres or marbles are disposed. The marbles may be of two or more groups distinguishable by color or marking. A discharge opening is provided centrally of the surface and of size to receive the marbles. The platform is carried in an elevated position on support means and two or more handle or gripping means are secured to the platform at spaced intervals around its circumference. Each handle means includes a bar portion which is arranged and proportioned to be grasped in one hand and held firmly. The players each grasp one or more handle means and thereby attempt to manipulate the platform to achieve a game objective such as causing his opponent's marble to fall into the opening. With each participant attempting to manipulate the device to his advantage, a contest or struggle results with the players wrestling each other for control of the movements of the platfonn. Prior devices which did not incorporate such individual handle means did not provide the players with strong firm grips and therefore did not afi'ord a comparable degree of control or a like test of strength and dexterity. Further, the handle means provide a way for younger, less strong players to achieve a good firm grip on the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved manipulative device for competitive play which is simple and economical to produce and distribute, and which utilizes the players respective strength, dexterity, coordination, and ingenuity.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is the perspective view of a play device embodying the present invention and being a preferred form thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another play device of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along plane 4-4 of Fig. 3.

A preferred fonn of play device embodying the present invention and shown in FIG. 1 comprises generally a movable playing platform unit 12 and one or more play pieces 14, such as marbles supported on the unit. The illustrated unit 12 includes a platform 16 having an upwardly directed play surface 18 with a central discharge opening 20 and a circumferential retaining rim 21. An upright tubular member 22 is connected at its upper end to underside of the platform 16 at the opening 20. The member 22 receives marbles which are discharged through the opening 20. The member 22 may be rested upon a supporting surface 24 such as a table to support the platform 116 in a position elevated above the table. The unit 12 further includes two pairs of opposed spaced-apart individual handle or grip means 25 which each comprise a gripping bar portion 26 for the players to hold and attempt to manipulate the platform.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 comprises a device 10' with a platform to having a surface 18, a central discharge opening 20 and a retaining lip or rim 21. Detachably connected to the underside of the platform 16 at the discharge opening 20 is a foreshortened tubular member 22 that rests on a surface 24 and is closed at its lower end to provide a receptacle 30 for marbles 14 discharged into it through the opening 20. The marbles 14 may be recovered by detaching the receptacle 30. The receptacle 30 also provides the support means for the device 10'. Individual handle means 25' of the device 10' are in the form of U-shaped bar portions 26' fixedly secured to the outer edge of the platform l6.

Now considering the play devices 10 or 10' in further detail, it should be constructed in a manner and of materials which will withstand the considerable stress and rough treatment to which it will be subjected incident to its use. A variety of materials or combination of materials such as metal or wood or various plastics may be utilized in the construction. In the play devices shown in the drawings the platform 16 is generally dish-shaped and the upper play surface 18 may be generally flat or inclined toward the center as shown in FIG. 4. The surface 18 may be otherwise slightly contoured or configured to include depressions, obstacles or other features as may be desired. In these illustrated devices the discharge opening 20 is centrally located and is proportioned for passage of the marbles 14 or other play pieces therethrough. The tubular member 22 is connected to the underside of the platform 16 at the opening 20 so that a passageway is formed from the opening into the member. The member 22 may be a separate part, or integrally formed with the platform. The illustrated member 22 shown in FIG. 1 is elongated and hollow and open at both ends so that a marble entering the opening 20 can pass completely through the member and out its lower end. This construction provides an extremely simple and economical arrangement. At four equally distant points around the circumference of the platform 16, the individual handle means 25 are secured to the platform for the players to hold and attempt to manipulate the platform. Each handle means 25 comprises a bar portion 26 arranged and proportioned to be gripped tightly by one hand. As shown in FIG. 1, the bar portions 26 extend generally straight downwardly and are long enough to grasp but are much shorter than the tubular member 22. While the tubular member is shown as having a generally circular cross section, it may have any other desired cross section or configuration as long as it provides a sufficient passageway for the marbles. All or a portion of the member 22 may be detachable from the platform 16 for ease and economy of manufacture, assembly, packaging and shipment. Any suitable, releasable interlock or connection between the tubular member and the platform, such as a friction fit or a detent arrangement all of which are well known in the art, may be used to provide the releasable connection. Such a connection may be desirable for purposes of packaging and the like whether or not the tubular member is completely open as shown in FIG. 1, or is closed as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. If desired, the tubular member may be closed to provide a retaining receptacle for the marbles as shown best in Fig. 4. If the tubular member is closed, the marble may be retrieved by inverting the device or by providing a doorway at the end or side of the member for removal of the marbles, or by removal of the tubular member if it is detachably connected to the platform (FIG. 4).

The platform 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with the retaining lip or rim 21 around its edge which, asshown best in Fig. 4, may include an upper curved portion 28 which acts to prevent the marbles from bouncing out of the playing area when they hit the lip. The platform 16 is generally circular, which is a desirable arrangement in terms of ease of manufacture and fabrication. Further, the circular arrangement, when considered in combination with the lip 21, provides a raceway around which the marbles can speed incident to the play with device to add excitement to such play.

The play pieces 14, which are illustrated as spheres and may be glass marbles, metal balls, etc., produce very rapid and sensitive response to movements of the platform. Other shapes or forms of play pieces may be used, however, which provide the desired amount of mobility and which will pass through the discharge opening.

Play of the game is simple, but exciting and challenging. One or more marbles, which may be in two or more sets or varieties, are placed on top of the platfonn and the players (usually two but there may be more) grasp the handle means and struggle with one another to manipulate the platform to cause the marble or marbles to either enter or not enter the discharge opening. The objective of the game for a player may be to direct his marble or marbles into the opening, or to direct his opponents marble or marbles into the opening.

As noted above, the construction is simple and economical to manufacture and fabricate. Further, by making the tubular receptacle detachable from the remainder of the structure, the device may be packaged, shipped, and stored in a compact container requiring a minimum amount of space. The individual handle means with bar portions permit the player to achieve a good, firm grip on the device.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the illustrated structures without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, one or more additional discharge openings might be provided or it might be desired to relocate the position of the discharge opening for a particular configuration of the device. As another example, alternate forms of gripping means could be provided and the device might incorporate another form of support means such as a base incorporating a pivoted or hinged arrangement, or a base incorporating a resilient or flexible member such as a rubber bar or a spring.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A play device that is to be competitively manipulated by two or more people to selectively control the action of play pieces, said play device comprising:

a platfonn having a generally flat annular upper play surface with a rim extending around the edge of said play surface,

said play surface being adapted to receive for movement thereupon one or more play pieces,

at least two individual integrally formed handle means secured adjacent to the edge of said platform at generally equally spaced intervals around its circumference, each of said handle means including a bar portion arranged and proportioned to be firmly gripped by one hand of a player,

a generally tubular member forming a closed receptacle for the playing pieces disposed generally upright and having its upper end easily detachably connected to said platform,

said platform including means defining a passageway between said play surface and the interior of said tubular member,

said passageway and said tubular member being proportioned to receive the play pieces through the passageway and into the tubular member,

said passageway and said tubular member being disposed generally centrally of said play surface,

whereby the players may grasp the bar portions of the handle means and each thereby attempt to manipulate the platform to effect desired movement of the play pieces with regard to the play surface and the passageway. 

1. A play device that is to be competitively manipulated by two or more people to selectively control the action of play pieces, said play device comprising: a platform having a generally flat annular upper play surface with a rim extending around the edge of said play surface, said play surface being adapted to receive for movement thereupon one or more play pieces, at least two individual integrally formed handle means secured adjacent to the edge of said platform at generally equally spaced intervals around its circumference, each of said handle means including a bar portion arranged and proportioned to be firmly gripped by one hand of a player, a generally tubular member forming a closed receptacle for the playing pieces disposed generally upright and having its upper end easily detaChably connected to said platform, said platform including means defining a passageway between said play surface and the interior of said tubular member, said passageway and said tubular member being proportioned to receive the play pieces through the passageway and into the tubular member, said passageway and said tubular member being disposed generally centrally of said play surface, whereby the players may grasp the bar portions of the handle means and each thereby attempt to manipulate the platform to effect desired movement of the play pieces with regard to the play surface and the passageway. 